Solid fuel combustion apparatus



FebQlG, 1954 E. T|NLEY ET A1. 2,669,200

SOLID FUEL COMBUSTION APPARAT'IIS Filed Oct. 4, 1951 2 SlleeS-Sheel'l 1 E. L. TINLEY ET AL SOLID FUEL coMBUsToN APPARATUS Feb.1\6, 1954 l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed oct. 4', A1951 FIG 4 INVENTORS:

accenno means of a knob 29 from outside the outer casmg.

The auxiliary air supply of the present invention is provided by means of a pipe 30 which has one end 3i in communication with the space El below the grate in the combustion chamber and this pipe is conveniently disposed in a vertical position at one side of the combustion chamber and is housed between the outer casing 32 of the apparatus and the outer wall of the doublewalled construction of the combustion chamber. The lower end of the pipe communicates with the space below the grate and at its other end the pipe is connected to a valve generally indicated at 33 in Figure 1, which automatically controls the admission of auxiliary air to the combustion chamber.

In the form of the valve shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pipe 3l! is connected to a valve box 3ft, housing a hinged vane 35 which closes apertures Bt in the end of the valve box. This end is inclined so that when hanging freely the Vane 35 permits air to enter from the atmosphere and pass through pipe 3e to the bottom of the combustion chamber.

The duct 21% opens into the valve box 3A through apertures 3? so that when the main air supply is on the vane 35 is held closed by the pressure of air on its rear face.

In Figure 6 is shown an alternative form of valve which comprises a cylindrical casing 3E which is disposed in operation with its axis in a vertical plane and at each end the casing has end plates 39 and 5u with projecting nanges through which pass securing bolts du which secure the two ends of the casing to the central cylindrical part.

At its lower end the end plate t of the casing is connected by means of a pI pe t Ito the main air duct 2d leading from the main supply fan and at the other end the end plate 69 has a centrally disposed aperture ft2 to which is connected the end of the auxiliary air supply pipe 35i.

The movable valve member within the casing comprises a piston which is formed with an outer cylindrical skirt 43 which works upon the inner face of the casing Se and a centrally disposed tubular portion 44 connected to the outer skirt d3 and of greater axial length than the skirt extending forwardly towards the upper end of the casing. The forward end 45 of this part 44 of the piston is shaped to engage a valve seat 45 on the central aperture i2 in the end plate E29.

When the piston is in the position in whichits forward end 5 engages this valve seat 46 there is a substantial distance between the forward end or" the piston skirt and the upper end plate and within this distance the outer cylindrical casing is provided with a number of ports 41 which open to the atmosphere. f

When the main air supply is on, the pressure of air at the back of the piston keeps its upper end 45 in engagement with the valve seat 46 soY that no air can pass through the casing ports 41 into the auxiliary line 3i) but when the main air pressure is reduced, that is when the fan is stopped, the valve piston descends within the casing thus allowing air from atmosphere to pass through the casing ports into the auxiliary line.

To regulate the amount of auxiliary air which can enter, the lower end plate 50 is provided with an adjusting screw d8 which passes through the end plate vertically and has its upper end disposed within the tubular part 4A of the piston.y By screwing the adjusting screw inwardly or outwardly of the end plate 5t the distance travelled by the piston when it descends can be decreased or increased respectively so that the opening between the forward end 45 of the piston and the valve seating A6 can be adjusted to regulate the amount of air from atmosphere passing into the auxiliary line 3D.

In a further form shown in Figure 5 the valve casing may be arranged as before with connections 14! to the main air supply and auxiliary line 30 as in the previous form but instead of a piston a flap or vane i9 is provided hinged about a horizontal axis to the upper end plate 5| and arranged so that when the main air supply is on the pressure of air in the casing maintains the flap closed against the opening 42 to the auxiliary line. rI'he upper end plate 5| is also provided with ports t to atmosphere which are also closed by the ap 9 when it closes the auxiliary line so that when the flap descends under gravity due to the stopping of the main fan these atmospheric ports are uncovered to allow air to pass into the casing and through the opening in the end plate into the auxiliary line An adjusting screw 3 may be provided in the lower end plate 52 as before with its upper end adapted t0 be engaged by the iiap when it descends so that the opening provided between the iiap and the end plate 5! can be adjusted to regulate the admission of air from the atmosphere.

By this means a regulated quantity of air can be supplied to the combustion chamber so as to maintain combustion at a slow rate during the time that the main air supply is shut off.

What we claim then is:

l. In solid fuel combustion apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, means for continuously feeding fuel thereto from above at one end so as to form a bank of fuel extending across the chamber to the opposite end and providing an inclined surface, means for directing air under pressure from above on to said inclined surface, and a main air supply for supplying air under pressure to said air-directing means; means for promoting a slow rate of combustion when the main air supply is shut oi comprising an auxiliary air supply and automatic means for controlling said auxiliary air supply so that auxiliary air is only admitted when the main air suD- ply is shut off, said automatic means being op eratively connected with the main air supply so as to be actuated by the stopping and starting of the main air supply.

2. In solid fuel combustion apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, means for continuously feeding fuel thereto from above at one end so as to form a bank of fuel extending across the chamber to the opposite end and providing an inclined surface, means for directing air under pressure from above on to said inclined surface, and a main air supply for supplying air under pressure to said air-directing means, means for promoting a slow rate of combustion when the main air supp-ly is shut olf comprising an auxiliary air supply and a valve controllingl said auxiliary air supply, said valve being subject to pressure of the air in the main supply so as to keep the valve closed until the main supply is shut off.

3. In solid fuel combustion apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, means for con- 'tinuously feeding fuel thereto so as to form a bank of fuel extending across the chamber and providing an inclined surface, means for directing air under pressure from above on to said inclined surface, and a main air supply for supplying air under pressure to said air-directing means, means for promoting a slow rate of combustion when the main air supply is shut off comprising an auxiliary air supply, a valve controlling said auxiliary air supply, said valve being subject to pressure of the air in the main supply so as to keep the valve closed until the main supply is shut off and said valve comprising a valve casing having a movable valve member housed therein said valve member being subject tothe pressure of air in the main supply so as to keep it in the closed position against the action of gravity until the main air supply is shut off.

4. In solid fuel combustion apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, means for continuously feeding fuel thereto so as to form a bank of fuel extending across the chamber and providing an inclined surface, means for directing air under pressure from above on to said in- -clined surface, and a main air supply duct for supplying air under pressure to said air-directing means, means for promoting a slow rate of combustion when the main air supply is shut off comprising an auxiliary air supply, a valve controlling said auxiliary air supply said valve being subject to pressure of the air in the main supply so as to keep the valve closed until the main supply is shut of, said valve comprising a valve casing mounted on the main air supply duct, one end of said casing being in communication with the inside of the main air duct, the other end of said casing having ports therein open to the atmosphere and an opening connected to the auxiliary supply, and a Vane hingedly mounted on this end of the casing, said vane being adapted to cover said ports and said opening in the closed position and being held in the closed position by the pressure of air in the main supply duct.

5. In solid fuel combustion apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, means for continuously feeding fuel thereto so as to form a bank of fuel extending across the chamber and providing an inclined surface, means for directing air under pressure from above on to said inclined surface, and a main air supply for supplying air under pressure to said air-directing means; means for promoting a slow rate of combustion when the main air supply is shut olf comprising an auxiliary air supply, a valve controlling said auxiliary air supply, said valve being subject to pressure of the air in the main supply so as to keep the valve closed until the main supply is shut olf, said valve comprising a valve casing arranged with its axis vertical, having an opening in the top end connected to the auxiliary air supply and an opening in the bottom end connected to the main air supply, a piston-shape valve member working in said casing and the upper part of said casing having ports therein open to the atmosphere, said valve member being adapted to cover said ports in the closed position and being held there by the pressure of air in the main air supply.

6. In solid fuel combustion apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, means for continuously feeding fuel thereto so as to form a bank of fuel extending across the chamber and providing an inclined surface, means for directing air under pressure from above on to said inclined surface, and a main air supply for supplying air under pressure to said air-directing means, means for promoting a slow rate of combustion when the main air supply is shut o comprising an auxiliary air supply, a Valve controlling said auxiliary air Supply said valve being subject to pressure of the air in the main supply so as to keep the valve closed until the main supply is shut olf, said valve comprising a valve casing arranged with its axis vertical, having an opening in the top end and an opening in the bottom end, pipes connecting said openings to the auxiliary and main air supplies respectively, a hinged vane pivoted on a horizontal axis to said top end of the casing, said top end of the casing having ports therein open to atmosphere and said vane being adapted to cover said ports and the opening in the top of the casing when in the closed position and being held closed by the pressure of air in the main supply.

7. In solid fuel combustion apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, means for continuously feeding fuel thereto so as to form a bank of fuel extending across the chamber and providing an inclined surface, means for directing air under pressure from above on to said inclined surface, and a main air supply for supplying air under pressure to said air-directing means, means for promoting a slow rate of combustion when the main air supply is shut off comprising an auxiliary air supply, a grate disposed in the bottom of said combustion chamber, said auxiliary air supply including a pipe line for air having its delivery end disposed below said grate, and automatic means for controlling said auxiliary air supply so that auxiliary air is only admitted when the main air supply is shut off said automatic means being operatively connected with the main air supply so as to be actuated by the stopping and starting of the main supply- ERNEST LAMBERT TINLEY. FREDERICK ARTHUR DRIVER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 767,569 Kitchen Aug. 16, 1904 1,561,497 Wier Nov. 17, 1925 1,770,588 Cook July 15, 1930 1,979,462 Gardner et al. Nov. 6, 1934 2,288,885 Carroll July 7, 1942 2,367,165 Astradsson Jan. 9, 1945 2,452,844 Esnault-Pelterie Nov. 2, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 695,649 Germany Aug. 30, 1940 

